Interfaces generation via severe plastic deformation – A new way to multiple shape memory polymer composites

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) 2023-02, Vol.267, p.125653, Article 125653
• Main Authors: Vozniak, Iurii, Beloshenko, Victor, Vozniak, Alina, Zaïri, Fahmi, Galeski, Andrzej, Rozanski, Artur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Physics
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.125653

Shape memory materials are classically described as a combination of switching and permanent domains for shape switching and shape recording, respectively. It is assumed that the interfaces between immiscible polymers could play a dual role - switching and permanent structural elements. In this work, we use severe plastic deformation as a method providing the formation of the interphases during the integration of thermodynamically immiscible polymers. By severe plastic deformation a composite gets much richer in interfaces than that obtained by melt blending. It can be used to produce effective multi-shape memory composites. A pair of immiscible polymers - acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) subjected to severe plastic deformation resulted in ABS/PET composite rich in interfaces with a broad glass transition. Strong plastic deformation by equal channel multi-angle extrusion resulted in the formation of large amount of intimate contact layers of ABS and PET and in strain-induced PET crystallization. Thermomechanical programming of such material rich in interfaces enabled a dual and triple shape memory with exceptional parameters. [Display omitted] •Strong plastic deformation (SPD) as a universal approach to creation of multi-shape memory.•SPD caused drastic increase in total interface area between blended polymers.•Triple shape memory immiscible ABS/PET blend was obtained as a result of SPD.•Tuning of the transition temperatures was possible within a broad glass transition of about 30 °C.